MARION, Ind., February 14, 2024 – Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is upgrading service in downtown Marion by replacing existing wires, poles and related equipment with new, stronger, more reliable infrastructure.
Downtown Marion work is beginning this week and is expected to be completed by spring. Beginning next week, work will involve temporary power outages for several customers at a time. In total, only about 60 customers will be affected. Each individual outage is expected to be from 1 to 5 hours. I&M will notify affected customers by personal contact or door hangers in advance of work in their area.
Much of the equipment being replaced dates back 60 years, and I&M is proactively upgrading the power lines to improve service and reliability. The new equipment will enhance the system by replacing 4-kilovolt service with stronger 12-kilovolt power, providing more stability and a higher capacity to serve growth. The higher voltage also gives I&M more ability to re-route power delivery when needed, reducing the number and extent of outages.
The project area is bounded by:
- Nebraska Street on the west
- 4th Street on the north
- McClure Steet on the east
- 8th Street on the south
Not all properties within the boundaries will be affected. Work will begin on the west side of the area and move eastward until completed.
Work will be conducted between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, weather permitting. Isolated weekend work will occur to accommodate a commercial customer. Most of the work will be in downtown alleys, but some short-term, isolated street closures may be needed. In addition, some downtown parking lots may be temporarily closed, and stoplights may be affected.
The downtown upgrades are part of a project to replace 16 miles of 4 kilovolt lines in the Marion area.
# # #
Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its approximately 2,000 employees serve more than 600,000 customers. More than 85% of its energy delivered in 2023 was emission-free. I&M has at its availability various sources of generation including 2,278 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan, 450 MW of purchased wind generation from Indiana, more than 22 MW of hydro generation in both states and approximately 35 MW of large-scale solar generation in both states. The company’s generation portfolio also includes 1,497 MW of coal-fueled generation.
At American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, we understand that our customers and communities depend on safe, reliable and affordable power. Our nearly 17,000 employees operate and maintain more than 40,000 miles of transmission lines, the nation's largest electric transmission system, and more than 225,000 miles of distribution lines to deliver power to 5.6 million customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation's largest electricity producers with nearly 29,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including approximately 6,100 megawatts of renewable energy. AEP is investing $43 billion over the next five years to make the electric grid cleaner and more reliable. We are on track to reach an 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 2005 levels by 2030 and have a goal to achieve net zero by 2045. AEP is recognized consistently for its focus on sustainability, community engagement and inclusion. AEP's family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. For more information, visit aep.com.
News releases and other information about I&M are available at IndianaMichiganPower.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tracy Warner
Communications Manager
260-479-9484
tkwarner@aep.com